Automatic fire-extinguisher



(No Model.)

T. G. TURNER.

AUTOMATIC FIRE BX'IINGUISHER.

No. 456,451. PatentedJuly 21 1.891'

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UNITED STATES THOMAS G. TURNER, OF N EV YORK,

N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THF. AMERICAN SPRINKLER HEAD COMPANY, OF NEIV YORK.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,451, dated July 21, 189] Application filed November 22, 1889.

T0 a/ZZ wiz/0m it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS G. TURNER, of New York, N. Y., have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Fire-Extinguishers,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of iireextinguishers known as automatic sprinklerheads; and my improvement consists in new and improved devices for sustaining the valve of the sprinkler in position against the waterpressure, expansion or contraction of the metal of the valve and sprinkler-head, (so thatit will be tight at all times,) and at the saine time insure positive and free opening of the valve when the temperature of the air surrounding the sprinkler-head be high enough to melt the solder holding the fastenings.

In the drawings, Figure l shows a side view of a sprinkler-head constructed in accordance with myinvention; Fig. 2, an edge View there of; Fig. 3, a vertical section of the sprinklen head, illustrating the nut, the screw, and the side bar for sustaining the valve; Fig. 4, a side elevation of a sprinkler designed for use on the top of water-pipes, and Fig. 5 a showing of a modified form of the side bars.

Like letters denote similar parts.

It has been my desire in designing' this sprinkler-head to overcome three well-known diticulties in this class of fire-extinguishers, viz: rst, certain opening at the time designed; second, a tight valve at all times under variable temperature, causing contraction and eX- pansion of the metal, and, third, an adjustable sustaining of the valve ot' ample strength to sustain any possible pressure of water on the valve.

In the design shown I attain all of the good qualities sought, as in practice the valve is tight, the tension is elastic, and the opening,r sure.

Referring to the drawings, A is the body of the head, designed to be screwed into the pipe system.

B is the valve for closing the opening in A.

C is a spring-nut having a screw D passing through it to sustain valve B.

E E are two side bars attached to the ends Serial No. 331,233. (No model.)

of spring-nut C and provided at the upper end with projections F F, which engage with studs G, projecting from head A, thus sustaining the thrust of the screw D. The projections F F are peculiar in construction and will sustain the valve against a powerful pressure. They consist of a bent piece of metal Il Il, one end of which passes through from side to side of the bar E and projects far enough to form a hook, which is designed t0 pass over the studs G G, which are'formed with a knife-edge on the upper side, as shown. The other end of bent metal H H is in con tact with the end of bar F. E and extends parallel thereto and is held in that position by a solder which fuses at a low temperature. The length of this piece of metal from the point where it passes through bar E to the point where it is soldered to the upper end of the bar E will determine the leverage exerted against the thrust of the screw D. Sometimes I find that it is not convenient to have the bar E project any considerable distance above stud G. I then compound the leverage by soldering a second piece of metal H to the reverse side of bar E, projecting above and over the end of bar E and bent metal H and overlapping the end of H and holding it from moving outward under strain of screw D. (See Fig. 5.) By this method of sustaining the valve B, I attain the objects sought: First, certain action in case of lire. The melting of the solder frees the bent metal forming the projections and bygravity the sustaining device falls apart, this action being aided by any pressure on the valve. It will be seen that there is no journal, pivot, or hinge to arrest the action of the valve when the solder melts. Second, the valve once made tight will remain so, as any expansion or contraction will be taken up by the spring forming the nut C, which sustains screw D, bythe use of which l am enabled to adjust the pressure on valve B at any time, thus making it possible to open and close the valve at all times for inspection or other purposes and to meet any variation in the water-pressure in the pipes at will.

Fig. i shows one form of sprinkler-head, de-

EAD

signed lo be placed on top of the pipes, einbodying all of the. features of my improvement, but differing in the one point that side bars E' E are attache-dto studs G and the bent metal H engages with spring-nut C, so the soldel` Will remain above the Water-openingr, as in the other construction.

I claim* While the other is soldered thereto to form a supporting-hook, and a knife-edged support over whicL said hook is placed, substantially as described. Y

In an automatic sprinkler-head, the coinbination of a valve B, straining-bars E E, supporting-hooks formed on said bars by metallic strips II H, soldered at one end to said bars and projecting through them at the other end, su pportin g-lu gs G- G,and tightening-screw D, as and for the purposes set fort-l1.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my naine, 1n presence of two witnesses, this 21st day of November, 1889.

THOMAS G. TURNER.

Witnesses R. N. BURR, EUGENE M. JEROME. 

